Method of and apparatus for washing glasses and the like



March .3, 1936- v. w. cuNNlNGHAM 2,032,916

17 v111)@ Vu'ncen ZU? ammi/@97mm March 3, 1936. v w. CUNNINGHAM 2,032,916

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING GLASSES AND THE LIKE 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 3l

.EN E ohm 721 Vd? z Cem ZU C11 1271117@ ham' Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD F AND APPARATUS FOR WASH- ING GLASSES AND THE LIKE Vincent W. Cunningham, Chicago, Ill. Application August 31, 1934, Serial No. 742,323 13 Claims. (Cl. 1576) further obiect isto provide a light, compact The invention relates generally to the art of glass washing and more particularly to this art as it is concerned with the rapid commercial washing and scrubbing of glasses and similar tumblers by power means.

In such commercial glass washing operations it is customary to employ a rotary power driven scrubbing or brushing unit submerged in whole or in part in cleansing solution contained in a suitable tank or sink, the scrubbing unit usually embodying brushes for engaging both inner and outer surfaces of the glass which is held in nonrotative relation to the brushes of the rapidly rotating scrubbing unit. As a practical matter, a

desirable, but with such an arrangement it has been mound that a cavitating action is ,in-- duced in the iiuid as an incident to the rotary movement of the brush unit, with the result that a tank of undue depth is required to prevent overiicw of the fluid.

This cavitation also removes practically all of the fluid from the inner brush, and in some cases from the outer brushes and prevents proper rinsing of the glass surfaces as the dirt is scrubbed therefrom.

As a further defect in prior practice it is found that because the fluid moves with the brushes and at substantially the same speed, there is practically no rinsing or ushing action upon the brushes and hence the brushes require frequent cleaning or replacement.

In view of these difiiculties, an important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method of and apparatus for washing glasses whereby turbulence is reduced and the normal cavitating action is overcome so as to reduce the depth of tank required, insure proper and continuous flushing of the brushes and the scrubbed surfaces of the glass, and eliminate the usual noise.

Prior devices have in most instances required a particular form and size of tank as well as a particular positioning in the tank, and it is a further object of the invention to provide a rotary glass washer constructed and arranged to operate with uniform eiciency independently of the size and shape of the tank and independently of its position in the tank.

Another object is to provide a glass washer of this character wherein exposed moving parts are eliminated so as to avoidthe need for the usual guards, remove the customary danger to the operator, eliminate splashing, and reduce the breakage of glassware and machine parts.

vertical positioning of the scrubbing unit is most and portable unit for washing glasses capable of easy installation and effective in such tanks which are relatively shallow.

Other objects and advantages will become ap- 5 parent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portable machine embodying the features of the invention, a portion of the device being shown in section to illustrate a part of the drive.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the device taken along the Fig. 3 is an enlarged taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of an native embodiment of the invention line 2-2 of Fig. l.

horizontal sectional View- Fig. 1.

c alteradapted for permanent installation in a tank.

Fig. 5 is a pian view of a tank in which my improved machine is mounted,

showing the direction and approximate rate of fluid movement Afor a given set of operating conditions.

In order to give a complete understanding of the principles of the invention,

herein illustrated and described,vbut

paratus are it is to be understood that intended as a limitation of particular apparatus, it

two forms of apthis disclosure is not the invention to this being contemplated that various changes might be made by those skilled in the art to adapt the invention to other types of apparatus without and scope of the invention pended claims.

departing from the spirit as deilned lby the ap- For the purpose ofimparting a thorough understanding of my invention and of facilitating capable of embodiment in a compact portable machine such as that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, or in a similar permanently mounted machine such as that shown in Fig. fi.

The portable machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 is one which is intended and particularly adapted for use in present wash tanks, such as the tank I0 of Fig. 2, and it is self-contained and unitary in construction' in that it adapted to rest on the comprises a base II bottom l2 of the tank with a scrubbing means I3 supported on the base below the normal fluid level and an actuating motor I4 for said means carried above said level by a standard I5 projecting upwardly from one end of the base.

To simplify the mounting and installation of the device, a plurality of suction cups I6 are preferably provided on the bottom of the base II to engage and attach to the bottom wall I2 of the tank and insure stable support for the machine.

As will be hereinafter explained in detail, the scrubbing means is rotary in character and to provide a rotary drive therefor, the motor I4 has an operating connection through the standard I5 and the base II which are both of hollow construction as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A bracket I1 carried by the standard I5 provides the principal support for the motor I4, a conventional worm and worm wheel reduction gearing I4at being provided between the motor and a shaft I8 which extends downwardly through the standard. If desired, a coupling I9 may be provided in the shaft I8, the vlower section of the shaft being fixed in a pinion 20 housed in the hollow base II. The pinion 20 engages a relatively large gear 2| also housed in the base I I, the gear 2| being centered on the axis of the scrubbing means I3 and.

fixed to a shaft 22 which projects upwardly out of the base II through an upwardly protruding bearing 23 to support and rotate the scrubbing means I3.

As shown herein the scrubbing unit I3 comprises a central brush 24 of cylindrical form centered on the axis of the shaft 22, and two side brushes 25 positioned parallel to and on opposite sides of the central brush 24 with their bristles overlapping the bristles of the central brush in a radial direction as shown in Fig. 3. To support the brushes 24 and 25 a holder 26 is provided having a central collar 21 embracing the projecting upper end ofthe shaft 22 and having a driving connection therewith such as the bayonet slot arrangement 28. Into the upper end of the collar 21 the lower end of the central brush core 24a f (Fig. 2) is fitted, and is secured by a screw 29.

To support the side brushes 25 oppositely projecting radial arms 30 are formed on the collar 21, the arms 3|! at their outer ends having upwardly projecting parallel supports 3| carrying brush retainers 32 thereon. The retainers 32 are preferably in the form of T-slots into which the backs 25a (Fig. 3) of the side brushes may be dropped from above with the bristles projecting radially inwardly of the structure and their lower ends resting on the arms 30.

The present embodiment provides means for restraining the entrance of water into the base II, and for this purpose a bell 35 is provided on the collar 21 so as to extend downwardly about the bearing 23 in closely spaced relation thereto. The arms 30 are joined to the lower edge of the bell 35. With this construction the rotary motion oi' the bell 35 and any water contained therein induces a centrifugal action which tends to draw the water from the bell downwardlyand outwardly through the space between the bell and the bearing 23.

Because oi' the extreme danger of the rapidly rotating rigid parts of the scrubbing unit I3, the present invention provides stationary means which encloses and acts las a guard about these rigid parts. This means may, as in the present embodiment, also function as a means for directing and controlling the circulation of cleansing fluid as will hereinafter be described in detail.

Since this guard meansl is associated with rotating or eircularly moving elements, it is preferably cylindrical in form and comprises a cylindrical housing 36 surrounding the scrubbing unit I3 and concentrically related thereto. The housing 36 is removably mounted by inserting its lower end in a seat provided by an upstanding flange 31 formed on the base I I concentric with the shaft 22. The housing 36 is, of course, spaced slightly from the outer surfaces of the brush supports 3| so as not to interfere with the rotary motion thereof, and at its upper end an inwardly rolled flange 38 is provided which extends over the tops of the brush backs 25a and downwardly slightly along but spaced from their inner faces. Thus the rigid upper ends of the brush backs 25a and the supports 3| are fully guarded against contact with the operator or the glassware.

This protected relation of the rigid brush elements is one of the primary factors which contribute to the adaptability of the present device for portable construction, since it eliminates vthe usual need for separate guards. 'I'he necessity for such guards has, in the past, required the factory-construction of the complete unit, including the washer and the associated guards. This requirement is, with the present construction, eliminated.

Proper utilization of the entire supply of cleansing fluid in the tank I 0 of course requires circulation of such fiuid through the brushes within the stationary housing 36. Normally the solution rises substantially to the level of the central brush tip, that is, above the upper edge of the housing 36 as shown in Fig. 2, and hence there is a constant tendency for fluid to run into the top of the housing. Provision is therefore made for the escape of fluid from the lower parts of the enclosure formed by the housing 36, the present embodiment having a plurality of openings 39 formed in the housing 36 slightly below the midpoint of the housing and at circumferentially spaced points thereabout.

When the scrubbing unit I3 rotates within the submerged housing 36, it acts as a pump impeller, imparting rapid rotation to the fluid with the incident centrifugal force which causes the fluid to flow outwardly from the housing through the openings 39. Thus, during rotation of the scrubbing unit, a constant circulation of fluid passes into the top of the housing, through the brushes, and out through the openings 39 as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The volume of such circuation is, of course, governed by the speed of rotation of the unit I3, its frontal area, its clearance in the housing, the depth of fluid and the size of the openings 39, and may be varied as desired by variations in any one or more of these and possibly other controlling factors.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the present invention has for one of its primary objects the production o'f a device which, due to the elimination of appreciable cavitation, is capable of use in a relatively shallow tank. 'I'his end is attained by retarding and counteracting the natural swirling of the fluid, preferably through introduction of a counter-flow of fluid which tends to swirl in a direction opposite to the direction of ing I3. est results are attained by actually deflecting such fluid in the opposite direction.

Thus, in the present instance,the openings 39 are in the form of louvres having sloping defector or baille surfaces 39EL which change the direction of swirling movement as shown by the arrows in Figs. 3 and 5.

The quantity of fluid thus discharged from the openings 39 is relatively small as compared with the total quantity of fluid in an ordinary tank, and hence the counter-swirling motion is relatively slow as compared with the rate of rotation of the scrubbing unit I3. 'I'his relative rate varies of course with the size of openings, depth of fluid, and the size and position of the unit therein.

An example is, however, illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, indicating the rate of reverse rotation of the outer body of fluid to be approximately ten revolutions per minute when the scrubbing unit has a rate of two hundred fifty revolutions per minute.

With such a slow movement of the main body of fluid, practically a smooth level surface is obtained thereon as indicated by the line B in Figs. 2 and 4. This is in contrast to the usual l surface, indicated at A, which obtains when the entire body of fluid rotates rapidly in the direction of brush rotation.

The surface contour A when the entire cavitating action 'takes place may, of course, vary with the size and shape of the tank so that in some cases it rises even higher about the side walls of the tank. The controlling effect of the counter-how about the guard housing 36 prevents such elevation of the outer edges of the fiuid and renders the present device operable in a tank the side walls of which are only slightly higher than the central brush tip.

Another operational feature of importance is the elimination of practically all noise due to the slow rate of movement of the major portion of the fluid bath.

In the operation of the device the cleansing fluid has a surface level about one inch above the top of the guard housing 36, making a total depth of about eight and one-quarter inches, the machine in the form of Figs. l and 2 having a total height to the top of the housing of seven and one-quarter inches. As the fluid is discharged from the housing 35 it is replaced by uid dropping into the housing with a slight rotative movement counter to the direction of brush rotation, and such fluid is struck by the rapidly rotating brushes sc that the fluid flushes through the bristles and thoroughly cleanses the brushes as an incident to the operation of the machine.

Due to the elimination of the large central cavity in the operation of the present device it is found that upon the insertion of a glass G into the machine, a relatively large quantity of cleansing solution is trapped in the glass so as to insure efficient scrubbing and rinsing of the inner surface.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings the device is constructed for permanent installation in a tank. This form, so far as the unit I3 and the guard 36 are concerned, is the same Aas that of Figs. l to 3, the difference being in the form of mounting and drive. The housing 36 is removably supported on a flat base 40 which rests upon the bottom wall of a tank 4l with the drive shaft 42 projecting from its central bearing through an opening 43 in the bottom of the tank. f 'Beneath the tank is a clamping plate 44, se-

cured by bolts 45 to the base 40, and carrying a bearing sleeve 46 for the shaft 42. Uponv the lower end of the shaft is a pulley 4l through which the scrubbing unit may be driven from a suitable power source as in the embodiment of 5 Figs. 1 to 3.

I claim as my invention:

l. The method of washing glasses and the like which consists in exposing a glass to the scrubbing action of rapidly rotating vertical brush l0 structure, and simultaneously directing a flow of cleansing fluid into said brush structure at the upper end thereof in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the brush structure.

2. 'Ihe method of glass washing which consists l5 in exposing a glass to the scrubbing action of a rapidly rotating brush structure, and simultaneously directing a flow of cleansing iiuid into said brush structure at one end thereof in a direction tending'to produce a swirling movement opposite 20 to the direction of rotation of the brush structure.

3. A glass washing machine having a container for lcleansing fluid, a scrubbing unit rotatably mounted on a, substantially vertical axis in said container beneath the normal fluid level therein, means for rotating said scrubbing unit in one direction, and means operable to direct a swirling flow of fluid into one end of said scrubbing unit in -a direction opposing the direction of rotation of said unit.

4. A machine of the character described having, in combination, a brush structure mounted for rotation about substantially a vertical axis,

a stationary housing surrounding said structure and having openings in the sides thereof through which cleansing fluid may pass from said housing, a tank surrounding said housing in spaced relation thereto for containing cleansing solution, and means for rotating said brush structure.

5. A portable glass washing machine comprising, in combination, a base adapted to be positioned in a tank and to rest upon the bottom thereof, means on said base for securing the same in position on the bottom of the tank, a brush structure mounted on said base and upstandlng therefrom for rotation about substantially a vertical axis, a standard mounted on said base at one side of said structure and rising from the base, a driving motor carried on said stand- 50 ard above the normal uid level in such a tank,

a driving connection driven from said motor and partially housed within said base for rotating said brush structure in one direction, and fluid defiecting means carried by said base in the path 5 of the outward flow of uid caused by rotation of saidl structure to reverse the direction of the swirling movement of such fluid as it moves outwardly away from said brush structure.

6. A portable device of the character described comprising, in combination, a hollow base adapted to be positioned in a tank and to rest upon the bottom thereof, a brush structure mounted on said base and upstanding therefrom for rotation about substantially a vertical axis, a housing surrounding said structure and having openings in the sides thereof providing for the escape of Mcleansing fluid from said housing, a standard mounted on said base at one side of said housing and rising from the base, a. driving motor carried on said standard above the normal fluid level in such a tank, gearing driven from said motor and housed within said base for rotating said brush structure in one direction, and fluid deecting means in the path of the flow of fluid from said 75 Cal openings to produce a swirling movement of such uid about the outside of said housing in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said brush structure.

'7. A portable glass washing machine comprising a base adapted to rest within and upon the bottom of a tank, a stationary vertical housing mounted on said base and having an open upper end, a brushing means mounted within said housing for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a standard upstanding from said base at one side of said housing, a driving motor carried upon said standard so as to be positioned above the normal iluid level in such a tank, a driving connection between said motor and the lower end o-f said brushing means for rotating the same, said housing having openings for the lateral escape of fluid therefrom, and iluid deflecting means in iixed relation to said base and in the path of such escaping fluid for controlling and directing the dow of such escaping fluid.

8. A portable glass washing machine comprising a base adapted to rest within and upon the bottom of a tank, a stationary vertical housing mounted on said base and having an open upper end, a brushing means mounted within said housing for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a standard upstanding from said base at one side of said housing, a driving motor carried upon said standard so as to be positioned above the normal fluid level in such a tank, said housing having openings through which fluid may be discharged from the housing, and a' driving connection between said motor and the lower end of the brushing means for rotating the same.

9. A portable glass washing machine having, in combination, a hollow base adapted to be positioned in a tank and to rest upon the bottom thereof, a brush structure mounted on said base and upstanding therefrom for rotation about substantially a vertical axis, a housing surrounding said structure and having openings in the sides thereof through which cleansing fluid may pass from said housing, a hollow standard mounted on said base at one side of said housing and rising from the base, a driving motor carried on said standard above .the normal fluid level in such a tank, a driving shaft extending from said motor downwardly through said standard so as to be housed thereby, gearing driven from said shaft and housed within said` base for rotatingv said brush structure in one direction, and iiuid deilectingmeans mounted in fixed relation to said base and in the path of the iiow of iluid from said openings to produce a swirling movement of such fluid about the outside of said housing in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said brush structure.

magere 10'. A glass washing machine comprising an upwardly opening stationary housing, a scrubhing unit rotatably mounted in said housing said unit having brushes thereon to engage and move about the surfaces of a glass or the like, said housing having discharge openings therein, through which iluid may pass outwardly under the iniluence of centrifugal force, iluid deilecting means mounted in iixed relation to`said housing in the'path of such discharged fluid and operable to direct such iluid with a swirling motion in one direction about said housing and means for rotating said scrubbing unit in the opposite direction to scrub the glass and impart rotating movement to the iluid within the housing in said opposite direction.

11. A glass washing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary glass scrubbing unit, a housing enclosing said unit, said housing being apertured to permit the centrifugal discharge of iluid from the housing adjacent to one end thereof as the fluid is rotated by said scrubbing unit and to permit re-entry of iluid into said housing at the other end of the housing, and stationary iluid deflecting means located in the path of such owing fluid and operable to direct and control the circulation of such discharged iluid as it ows from its point of discharge to its point of re-entry.

12.v In a. washing device, the combination of a tank for containing washing fluid, scrubbing means mounted in said tank for rapid rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a housing surrounding said means through which iiuid may iiow longitudinally of` said means from end to end and apertured to permit centrifugal discharge of iluid from the housing into the tank adjacent to one end of the housing and to permit re-entry of fluid from the tank into the housing adjacent to the other end of the housing, and a stationary fluid deilecting baille means in said tank in the path of the flowing iiuid and operable upon the iluid to reduce the rotative tendency of the fluid before it enters the said other end of said housing.

13. A machine of the character described having. in combination, a tank for containing washing iluid, an elongated brush structure mounted in said tank for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, an elongated stationary housing in said tank and surrounding said structure and having openings therein through which'iluid may enter and leave said housing and circulate throughout substantially the entire length of said housing while passing from its point of entry to its point of leaving said housing, and means for rotating said brush structure.

VINCENT W. CUNNINGHAM. 

